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Alberta Fish and Wildlife is defending its decision to shoot and kill a cougar that had wandered near a southeast Calgary hospital Thursday morning, citing reasons of public safety. But critics are upset the officers didn’t explore other non-lethal options before shooting the animal dead.

Wildlife, from bears to bobcats, is continuing to be spotted on the city’s edges after last week’s massive snowfall, possibly because of food being left outside due to power outages. And with fall weather bringing a more aggressive need for food among bears in particular, residents are being asked to keep their yards clear of all attractants, including berries, crabapples even bird seed which can attract bird predators.

Bayview residents were warned to stay indoors for several hours Friday morning after a black bear trotted through the southwest Calgary neighbourhood and took up residence in a tree. Police, Fish and Wildlife officers and firefighters were called to the 2000 block of Bay Shore Road S.W. before 7 a.m. after receiving reports that a bruin was running around in the area.

Calgarians are getting to know some of their furry neighbours after a coyote dashed into a home Tuesday night and a bear made a watery escape midday Wednesday. Meaghan Easthope’s Arbour Lake home had a tense encounter with a coyote around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Anti-poaching measures, such as an anonymous hotline to inform on offenders, appear to be curtailing Alberta’s outlaw hunters. But a conservation group is warning no significant inroads will be made unless more money is devoted to stamping out poaching.

Two cougars that killed a dog in the Silvertip area of Canmore were in good health when they were destroyed, according to the province. On Dec. 15, wildlife officer Dave Dickson shot the big cats after two dogs were killed in a matter of days — one on the edge of the Silvertip golf course and another in the backyard of a residence less than half a kilometre away.

A Fish and Wildlife officer has shot two cougars in Canmore after two dogs were killed in the past few days — one on the Silvertip golf course and another in the backyard of a residence less than 400 metres away. Around 6 a.m. Sunday, authorities were called about a cougar attack at a residence in the Blue Grouse area, which backs on to a wooded area.

Fish and Wildlife officials have trapped a young grizzly bear near Okotoks. The juvenile bruin was safely caught Wednesday morning two kilometres north of Okotoks and appears to be in good health, according to a government spokesman.

Speeders, litterers and impaired drivers were among the thousands nabbed by traffic officers patrolling Alberta’s highways on the Victoria Day long weekend. From Friday to Monday, members of Alberta’s integrated traffic unit — made up of RCMP officers and sheriffs — laid 5,039 charges, said Brendan Cox, spokesman with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General.

Ryan McClelland always knew he lived in bear country, but he says it’s gotten to the point he won’t leave his house without a gun after encountering nine grizzly bears on his ranch one night. Early Sunday morning, the fourth-generation rancher near Beaver Mines, about 200 kilometres south of Calgary, was awoken by his dog barking.

The sight of some wild cats wandering behind homes in a southwest community prompted residents to notify officials Wednesday morning. Police officers were called to the 3100 block of Leduc Crescent S.W. in Lakeview at around 7:30 a.m. after a woman spotted what appeared to be a cougar walking down the alley with two cubs.

Nancy Bellstedt likes to get up early each day to walk from her home to the grocery store for the morning newspapers. It’s a routine that typically includes a short stroll along a treed pathway in the pretty mountain town. But not last week.

Fashion, philanthropy, inspiration and funny seamlessly blended together March 6 at Hotel Arts at Love Her — a fundraiser and friend-raiser in support of Ovarian Cancer Canada. There is nothing funny about ovarian cancer, however, as late detection results in five-year survival rates of less than 30 per cent. Further, there is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer and every year 1,750 Canadian women die from the disease.

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